Apparatus for cutting fibers



June 3, 1952 R. c. WlLKlE APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FIBERS Filed April 27, 1948 3 M. m cm w Mm m ww 1} 5 M m .3 3 a TFQ.-+:QL ,i i a L| Q Y M E Z V. m mw m a .sh eetyqf Inciting fibers in order to deliy Patented June 3, 1952 Marisachusetts Application April 27, 1948gSerialNo=a288fir 1:. Myjnvention relates tc'nar r ap paratus for. cuttingfibers tg variablelengths en obj inmart a s i dewise reciprocating movernent,

fi l etia Y ne ..e fl; .a p ir, ,1- i is mi s o such Ql ;m% ..'.Q m aetur the fibers into varying lengths. Such a pair of cutting rolls is shown and described in my Patents No. 2,438,469, issued March 23, 1948. Another object is to form large bundles of fibers into an even sheet which can then be reciprocate sidewise.

In the drawing Fig. 1' is a longitudinal elevation partly in section of my apparatus, Fig. 2 is a vertical view on the line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a side view of the roll 6|, Fig. 5 illustrates the means for reciprocating the bar I, and Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the variable lengths of the cut fibers.

The strands of bundles of fibers are drawn from coils in boxes 60, or other packing means, over guide rollers and over a stationary roll 6| having upwardly projecting pins 62 which arrange the strands side by side in a sheet C. Th sheet passes through a tensionin device consisting of rolls 4 and 5 journalled in slotted arms 6 adjustably secured to the frame of the machine by bolts. The sheet passes over a tiltable roll 8 mounted in a pivoted and rocking frame l5 and thence between delivery rolls 44, 45 and 48 to the fracturing or cutting rolls l0, 12 described in my Patent No. 2,438,469. The upper roll ID has on its surface a number of helical thread which cut or fracture the fiber against the lower roll which has a plain surface. The threads are disposed at a wide angle, such as approximately 80, to the axis of the roll, Fig. 6.

The frame I5 is rocked by a bar 1, Figs. 2 and 3, mounted to reciprocate in slots in vertical uprights ll secured to the frame of the machine. The bar 1 is pivoted to a link 12 which is reciprocated by the means shown in Fig. 5. The roll 46, driven by means not shown, drives a sprocket chain 4| which drives a roll fast on a shaft on which is a worm 43. The Worm drives a worm gear 45 fast on a shaft 41 having a crank 49 which is connected to the link 12, pivoted to the bar 1.

The bar I, Fig. 3, has an angle iron 1| bolted thereto in the horizontal part of which is secured a stud l3 which passes loosely through a hole in a cross-bar l4 fastened to the frame l5 in which the roll 8, over which the sheet C of fibers passes, is journalled. Vertical studs l6 warns (Cl-46kt asst 5 eati az hat the stantially rectangular cross thickness.

A bracket I! depending from the lower member 9 of the frame carries a pin l8 which is journalled in a bracket 19 fastened to a cross bar 20 of the frame of the machine. The frame l5 and the parts carried thereby are pivoted on pin I8.

When the bar 1 is reciprocated, it rocks the frame l5 about its pivot I8 and tilts the roll 8 first one way and then the other. This causes the moving sheet of fibers to be displaced sidewise as it is presented to the feed rolls 44, 46 and 48 and to be presented to the cutting rolls l0 and I2 at varying angles whereby the lengths of the cut fibers are varied.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating how a small change in the angle at which the fibers are presented to the cutting threads I00 and NI of the roll I0 results in a comparatively large variation in the length of the cut fibers. A preferred angle at which the threads are arranged relative to the axis of the roll I 0 is about The fibers, when presented to the threads at right angles to the axis of the roll on the line a-b, are cut to the length (l -b. When the fibers are presented in the direction cd, i. e. 84 to the axis, they are cut to the length c-d, and when the fibers are presented in the direction ef, i. e. 93 to the axis they are cut to the length e-f. By suitably adjusting the throw of crank 49, Fig. 5, and thereby the magnitude of the angle through which the roll 8 is tilted and by the use of cutting rolls having cutting threads at different angles to the axis of the rolls, the desired lengths of cut fibers and the variations in their lengths may be obtained, such as 3 to 5 inches, 3 to 6 inches, 2 to 5 inches, etc.

I claim:

.1. In an apparatus for cutting fibers to variable lengths in which a number of strands of fibers are arranged in a'sheet and are cut by a pair ofcutting rolls one of which has cutting threads set helically thereon, feed rolls in advance of the cutting rolls, a roll mounted in a tiltable frame, means to guide the sheet of fibers over said roll, and means to rock said frame in a vertical plane about a pivot below the axis of said roll and in a vertical plane midway between the ends 3 of said roll to alternately displace the sheet of fibers passing thereover both vertically and laterally whereby said sheet of fibers is moved sidewise by said roll and is delivered at varying angles to said feed rolls.

2. In an apparatus for cutting fibers to variable lengths in which a number of strands of fibers are arranged in a sheet and are cut by a pair of cutting rolls one of whichhas cutting threads set helically thereon, feed rolls in ad-;

vance of the cutting rolls, a roll mounted in a tiltable frame, means to guide the sheet of fibers over said roll, and means to rock said frame in a vertical plane about a pivot'pin below the axis of said roll and in a vertical plane midway be tween the ends of said roll to alternately displace the fibers of said sheet in arcs centered about,

said pin whereby said fibers are moved sidewise by said roll and are delivered at varying angles to said feed rolls.

3. Means in an apparatus for feeding a sheet.

of fibers to a pair of cutting rolls one of which has helical cutting threads set at an angle of approximately 80 to the axis of the roll, said means comprising feed rolls in advance of said cutting rolls, a frame tiltable in a vertical plane,

a roll mounted in said frame, means to feed the sheet of fibers over said roll, a horizontal pin on which said frame is pivoted below the plane of the sheet supporting surface of said roll and equidistant from the ends of said roll, and means connecting one of said feed rolls and said frame to tilt said frame in a vertical planeon said pin whereby said sheet of fibers is delivered to said feed rollsat varying angles.

ROBERT C. WILKIE.

REFERENCES CITED u The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,221,716 Morton NOV. 12, 1940 2,234,105 Ashton et a1. Mar. 4, 1941 2,248,806 Campbell July. 8, 1941 2,274,268 Hercik Feb. 24, 1942 2,296,253 Bitler Sept. 22, 1942 2,296,297 Smith Sept. 22, 1942 2,296,298 Spalding et a1. Sept. 22, 1942 2,485,705 Croft et al. ..Q Oct. 25, 1949, 

